History of the Manchu Language
Origin and Spread
It might come as a surprise that the Manchu language and Arabic are actually two languages with a common origin. Let's begin by looking at a map of the spread of the Manchu language:
"Map Asia physical (continental)" by naturalearthdata.com, available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Asia_physical_(continental).png, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified by Andrew with content provided by 轻松快乐学满语 mini program.
The Manchu language originated from the Aramaic script around the 7th century BCE and, after several transformations, reached the Mongolian region about 800 years ago. Building upon the foundation of the Mongolian language, the Manchu script was established.
According to the Old Manchu Chronicles, in 1599, Aisin Gioro Nurhaci, a great general of Manchu who laid the foundation of the establishment of Qing dynasty, ordered Erdeni and Gagai to borrow from the Mongolian script to create the Manchu script. Later, Dahai added 12 characters and placed dots next to the Old Manchu characters to enhance the script further. This improved script was called the "New Manchu Script" and became widely used during the Later Jin period.
Golden Era
The Manchu language reached its zenith during the early to mid-Qing Dynasty. Aisin Gioro Hong Taiji, the founder of the Qing Dynasty and the eighth son of Aisin Gioro Nurhaci, established both Manchu and Chinese as official languages when he entered the Central Plains to establish the Qing Dynasty. In the early to mid-Qing Dynasty, Manchu script was extensively used for issuing decrees, official documents, education, translation, and everyday communication. Within the Forbidden City, the residence of Chinese emperors throughout history, both Chinese and Manchu scripts were present on all palaces.
Gate writing (乾清門 / 乾清门 / Qián qīng mén / "Gate of Sovereign Purity"), Manchu-Chinese in the Forbidden City, by Andrew Lih, available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manchu_chinese.jpg, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Decline Phase
However, by the mid-Qianlong reign, despite the peak coverage and usage of the Manchu script, the Manchu language faced an awkward situation. The Qing Dynasty's conquest of the Central Plains was seen as an intrusion by an ethnic minority. To rule over the people of the Central
ed by Chinese and continuous interactions with the Han people, the usage of the Manchu language gradually declined. Those who once took pride in speaking Manchu, especially the aristocratic "Eight Banners" of the Manchu ethnic group, appeared to shift their focus from Manchu to a growing interest in Chinese culture.
As time went on, the status of the Manchu language further diminished during the Guangxu period. The Qing Dynasty faced increasing pressures from within and outside, making it difficult for the Manchu language to adapt to these changing circumstances. In order to maintain stability in governance, the Qing Dynasty gradually abandoned the Manchu language, prioritizing Chinese as the primary official language. Simultaneously, the corruption and decay within the late Qing Dynasty weakened its ability to rule as a dynasty. The impact of Western cultures further contributed to the gradual fading of the Manchu language from the mainstream.
After the 1911-1912 Xinhai Revolution, the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, leading to the loss of the foundation for the continuation of the Manchu language. Consequently, the Manchu language gradually disappeared.
*Interesting Historical Fact: The last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin Gioro Puyi, seemed to only know one phrase in Manchu, "Ili," which means "stand up." Whenever Manchu ministers greeted Puyi by kneeling, he would respond in Manchu, instructing them to stand up.
Current Status of the Manchu Language
Despite only a little over a century since the fall of the Qing Dynasty, among the present population of over ten million Manchu people, there are only a few dozen proficient speakers of the Manchu language, mostly elderly individuals residing along the banks of the Heilongjiang River. After 2000, the usage of the Manchu language became increasingly limited, with only a few elderly individuals in Sanjiazi Village, Fuyu County, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, and certain Manchu villages in Heihe Prefecture still being able to speak it. Middle-aged individuals could generally comprehend Manchu but were unable to converse in the language, while younger generations neither understood nor spoke Manchu. This transition over the course of its 400-year history illustrates how Manchu language has evolved from a once widely spoken national language to a critically endangered one. It is important to acknowledge that when a language goes extinct, access to original materials recorded in that language is lost, leading to the potential forfeiture of invaluable cultural knowledge specific to that particular nation or group. In China, there are fewer than a hundred individuals who can master the fundamental skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Manchu. The preservation and revitalization of the Manchu language have become critically important topics. If you are interested in supporting the preservation and propagation of the Manchu language, please visit our Manchu Language Revitalization webpage. We welcome your contact and collaboration.